sundries

[rm]

Just before bed last night I realized that our cruise is in less than 90 days, and I'd not yet made my gluten-free requests. I called this morning and they said they can do it, and emailed me the form which reiterates the 90 days, but I'm going to fill it out and see what I can do. Basically it allows me to request gluten-free items within a certain allowance for each day of the cruise. I figure I should just request the max allowed, even if I am not going to eat pasta every day, just in case, but it does feel a bit challenging. At least I can have daily gluten-free waffles and the like. Sadly, there is only gluten-free service in the main dining room, and we're definitely planning to do meals at some of the other restaurants, but I think that means I just have to order wisely there and not expect being able to be served the special gluten-free items.

Cruises are hard!

On the other hand, while on the phone I found out that they are out of state rooms at the level we reserved, so if there aren't cancellations or other upgrades that get us into the category we paid for, we're going to wind up upgraded ourselves. Considering we've already paid for a room with a full balcony and a pretty good deck level, this might be pretty impressive.

I am so excited about my stupid NaNo novel. The idea of getting this mad thing out of my head and onto paper is really exciting to me (my cracky summary is still making me laugh and laugh and laugh), and I spent all morning on the subway chuckling at the idea of a chick dressed as PowerGirl getting stuck checking people into a hotel dressed like that because of a bit of Keystone Cops comedy of errors stuff involving room keys, business clothes and sex with minor celebrity. Yeah, I'm writing this thing on eleven. If it's absurd, I'm just going to go for it. I can always dial it back later. This is a case of "I have no idea what I'm doing, but I think I can make money doing it."

I am not sure of what I think of the new Doctor Who logo. For the record, for those who are not of the Whoniverse and have not suffered along with its numerical insanities, we're now rebooting to what is going to be considered Series 1 with Eleven, even though Ten's first series was Series 2. If you don't think about it, it won't drive you crazy.

Anyway, the logo. I agree with others, that it sorta looks like a Transformers thing. And there's a certain 80s kitchiness to it all. On the other hand, it's clever, the color family makes sense (and hints that the inside of this Tardis will not be as warm -- the only place the tones of the logo that is leaving us were seen was on the inside of the Nine/Ten Tardis), and there is, in spite of it all, movement in the logo. But, as was noted elsewhere, Lens flares ate my baby! What is up with that?

Clearly, though, I'm now a real DW fan, because who the fuck gets worked up about a logo?

I finally ordered a binder last night, because the whole sports bra thing was getting tedious and I feel very strongly about having a really perfect line under my suits. Of course, I fall directly between two sizes (and their height/weight info vs. the chest size info couldn't have been more radically mismatched to my shape) so we'll see how that works out.

Last night we watched the second episode of Merlin's second season. It was, in places, very smart (the awkward Gwen/Arthur convo the first time they spend the night together -- such as it is -- is a hilarious wink and nod to other tellings of the story). It was also, in places, very stupid, both in terms of structure and of course the possible fail-y (I say possible, because regardless of what I felt I saw with my eyes, which did feel fail-y to me, I'm an American with excessive knowledge of the differences between American and British casting and writing processes, watching a British program I'm not that obsessively aware of the specific processes behind and the UK's racial issues and manifestations there of our different than American ones and the only thing I feel qualified to say is that I will defer to the British audience and folks working in British media on this matter).

I think I've decided that I find Post Secret annoying most of the time. Working in law-enforcement didn't make you racist, you idiot; you were racist, didn't realize it and now, having realized it, are using your job to justify it. Also, every single secret about who had an affair with whoever? People fuck and people lie and people make bad decisions; if you're over 27, it's time to stop thinking the presence of such stuff in your life makes your narrative interesting; it doesn't. Additionally, you are not the only person who has ever been closeted, loved their pets more than their family, wanted to beat up their coworkers or has ever wished a terminally ill loved one's suffering would end. NEWSFLASH: the secrets aren't the secret, the shame is. Common, crappy, destructive shame.

I adore watching how the ads AdSense places on my pages change as discussions involve in comments. We're on to joint health now because I mentioned my slippy shoulders in a discussion about wearing breast binders. I've also noticed a high incidence of ads about staying young looking, which I suspect is a result of all the birthday remarks as well as constant mentions of "time" as happens when you're in Whoniverse fandom.

Jess Hartley is doing a series on Cons for Pros. It's focused on the gaming community, and so far has not even begun to address the sort of stuff I've seen at both mostly literary cons and the very fraught world of media cons, but I thought it was worth linking as a point of reference.

Casting notice phrasing of the day: "tall, frumpy, loud, but despite outward appearances aroused by her husband's murderous intentions."

Comments

[gallo-de-pelea.livejournal.com]

I'm not totally wild about the square one, but I do like the DW-policebox logo. Hell, I'd wear that on a t-shirt. Silkscreened in cobalt blue on navy, nice and subtle, with a touch of white for the light :D

[rednwhiterose.livejournal.com]

I was iffy on the logo at first...but then I saw it materialize and my inner 5 year old flailed and squeed like it never had before. I want to see it the context of the opening credits/the show in general before I come down hard on it one way or another.

[jigglykat.livejournal.com]

Clearly, though, I'm now a real DW fan, because who the fuck gets worked up about a logo?

They get worked up about anything and everything. Every new thing that appears, there's wank over it! And the showrunners know this, which is why I think they've not-so-secretly set out to cause DRAMA and PAIN and TURMOIL by changing everything just because they can! And foolishly, I've fallen for it a few times.

I'm personally not a fan, but I'll deal. I've seen one or two people on my flist write off the show because of the logo. Really? REALLY?

[rm.livejournal.com]

That's pretty ridiculous, but doesn't surprise me.

I'm also getting sick of all the "this will be sexist, look at what the companion is wearing" and it's like "do you know what's going on in that episode? what the setting it? do you really think that's supposed to be a real police uniform that fits her right? maybe it's a gag as opposed to a massive over-arching statement on women in the world of Eleven?" but you know, being reasoned doesn't win me friends or influence people.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

Sigh, I see what you mean.

[jigglykat.livejournal.com]

Exactly! I haven't seen much of the set pictures lately, aside from the ones I posted yesterday, but we DO NOT KNOW THE CONTEXT of what's going on in that scene. We don't know Amy's character background. We don't know anything. So chill out, guys! Once the season starts, THEN you can bitch and complain.

[rm.livejournal.com]

For all we know, she's in a Halloween costume! (although I know that's less of a thing in Britain than it is here).

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

Of course I've lost the link, but spoilers suggest she's dressed up like that for a bachelorette/hen party and then the Doctor comes a-gate crashing. As anyone with any sense could have already figured out for themselves, no, it's not a real police uniform.

[jigglykat.livejournal.com]

...but spoilers suggest she's dressed up like that for a bachelorette/hen party and then the Doctor comes a-gate crashing.

Of course he does. =^^= Helloooooooooooo, ladies!

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

Perhaps that's also our explanation for how his suit gets all ripped up... ;-D

[jigglykat.livejournal.com]

Gasp. I think you're onto something! THIS MAKES SO MUCH SENSE.

[smirnoffmule.livejournal.com]

For real. I would buy that that's meant to be an actual police uniform if this were anime. Otherwise, really no.

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure that if Britain were putting its female police officers in micro-minis we'd have heard tell of it before now, yes.

[sethg]

Once upon a time I saw a picture of one of the first women to serve as a US police officer, in the 1960s or thenabouts. Of course back then respectable women didn't wear pants, so this officer wore a uniform with a short skirt. And she carried a purse. Her gun and holster were in the purse.

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

"And she carried a purse. Her gun and holster were in the purse."

Was that just for a publicity picture, or was she actually meant to walk a beat fumbling with a purse clasp to get at her gun? Wow.

[sethg]

IIRC that was her actual uniform.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

being reasoned doesn't win me friends or influence people.

Not in this fandom, sad to say.

The numbering thing appears to be tied to the new production crew and has nothing to do with the overall arc of the show - just as Eccleston's reign was "year 1" for New Who but something like Season 26 to some purist fans.

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

Ooh, first time seeing that logo. It's better suited to screens - computer, iPhone, etc - than to things like t-shirts. I'm withholding judgment, I think.

[gallo-de-pelea.livejournal.com]

My inner designer was going all "augh gradients" until I remembered it was made primarily for TV screens. Print instincts are hard to suppress :)

[smirnoffmule.livejournal.com]

My first binder astounded me by fitting amazingly, after the obligatory twenty fucking minutes it took to figure out how to get it on past those inconvenient bones in my shoulders. There are instructions on the site about how to put one on, and I distinctly remember blipping over that, thinking, yeah, yeah, I know how to put on clothes, but no. It's like escapology in reverse.

Clearly, though, I'm now a real DW fan, because who the fuck gets worked up about a logo?

Me either, apparently, though I did enjoy tencrush's font-geek explanation of its flaws, since I take my hat off to geekiness in all its forms.

NEWSFLASH: the secrets aren't the secret, the shame is. Common, crappy, destructive shame.

Oh, this.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I can always get things like that on, but getting things like that off can be hard for me (it's something about the way my joints slip in and out, that I never figure out these things things actually work, and it makes getting crap on easy, but then I get stuck and can't get out again!).

And yeah, that font is really epically terrible.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

Oh, this.

Yup. And my thoughts about just about every other *_secret comm on LJ.

Yeah, I don't know a huge quantity about typography, but tencrush's breakdown was quite the revelation of "d'oh! So that's why it looks Shiny but Not Quite Right..."

[rm.livejournal.com]

I feel like Post Secret used to be awesome and now isn't. I feel the same way about FandomSecrets (which also suffers from the "you confess, we ridicule" factor, that also makes interesting secrets be not present).

LIke can't we just replace all these communities with big signs that simply say "We're sorry you hate yourself"?

[kel-reiley.livejournal.com]

we're now rebooting to what is going to be considered Series 1 with Eleven,

really? i just thought it was going to be series 5
i don't dislike the new logo, but i'm not sure why they needed a new one

[eandh99.livejournal.com]

Because we can't count to higher numbers anymore? My inner librarian screams how are we going to file a series with multiple "series 1" designations. If Tom Baker didn't get his own reboot to 1 when he started, why should Matt Smith? But changing the logo makes sense, they've often done that when they've changed Doctors, though not usually this drastically.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I think it has to do with the show-runner switch, rather than the actor switch, which is why they didn't restart the numbers for Ten.

[eandh99.livejournal.com]

But they've changed showrunners several times without such a numbering change in the past - and do we really need 3 different "series 1"? With, presumably, another one coming in 5 years or so when someone takes over from Moffat?

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

I think I remember reading that the "Series 1" stuff is production team shorthand, not how they're going to be pitching it to the general public.

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

IIRC for things with the same title we just file by year when it comes to Library of Congress. PN1992.8 S26 D# 2006, 2007 etc.

[eandh99.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of working the front desk -- "I'm looking for series 1 of Doctor who, no not that series 1 the other series 1."

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

Good point!

[fmanalyst.livejournal.com]

Are they casting for Lady Macbeth?

[rm.livejournal.com]

Lol! Sadly no. I would LOVE to do that role again.

[dskasak.livejournal.com]

Which logo is worse: this one, or the late 80s logo used for Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy? The current design brings up the older one in my head, as both are too shiny and full of lens flare.

[kurometarikku.livejournal.com]

Oh man, when they went from the neon tube logo to that I was GUTTED.

Just like Tennant, Peter Davison was my doctor (until I knew better, anyways) and the neon tube was my logo!

[dsmoen.livejournal.com]

When I went on a cruise on NCL, the various restaurant headwaiters were practically falling all over me to serve me gluten-free food. They definitely had it, and I hadn't specifically requested any.

Oh, and they each lobbied me to come dine at their restaurant next meal. It was awesome.

I'm not used to having a lot of wheat substitutes, so the day I had gluten-free bread with gluten-free pasta at dinner, I felt like I'd gained 15 pounds.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

If you don't think about it, it won't drive you crazy.
Too late.
Honestly, I'm not getting why there has to be another reboot, surely it's the regular change that comes from the regeneration.
Gah, I dunno.
And yeah, very 80's. Then again, #11 is wearing tweed...
*sigh*

I was at the annual Con (http://www.icon.org.il/2009/en) today, and I saw a little boy today in a blue suit and red trainers and I gushed over him. It helped that I was wearing my Jack/Ianto t-shirt and he said he said he loved Captain Jack!
It was awesome.
I'm going to miss #10.

I'm excited about your NaNo Novel as well! :-D

[rm.livejournal.com]

No, it is the regular regeneration change. They're just changing the numbers again (although another commenter says that may just be an internal, not external change).

NaNo novel has developed another stakes raising subplot! Actor!guy (who doesn't have a name yet) is up for a big role in some really wholesome franchise, so all the gossip that starts flying around = Not Useful. Muhahaahahah.

[newsbean.livejournal.com]

if you're over 27, it's time to stop thinking the presence of such stuff in your life makes your narrative interesting; it doesn't.

I actually think that's the point. If you read people's accounts of what Post Secret does for people it's that it makes them feel like they aren't special. They're people who experience the same things and have the same feelings as other people. There's so much shame surrounding some things that people are never able to talk about them and discover that they are not alone.

The Secret communities (in all their flavors) seem to be about de-shaming things. Taking away their mysticism and power. Turning them into things that are ok to talk about. They're not about telling interesting narratives. They're about telling the mundane and ridding it of the power it has had over your life.

[missdeanna.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping to get a binder in the not too distant future. I really need one.

I doubt I'm going to attempt NaNo again this year, even though I'd still like to win it. But then again, I also said I wasn't going to watch Heroes anymore, and I am. So I'll see.

[ubixtiz.livejournal.com]

I find your reasoning on the binder issue spot-on. While sports bras work very well much of the time, structured garments require the clean line. Good luck with the sizing.